An interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme has been proposed to enable renewable energy evacuation from the Morena Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) in Madhya Pradesh.
To this effect, National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has recommended a scheme termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from RE projects in Morena SEZ in Madhya Pradesh-Phase I (2,500 MW).”
With an estimated outlay of Rs.1,692 crore and an implementation timeframe of 27 months, this ISTS scheme will be developed under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework with PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) as the bid process coordinator.
As the scheme costs over Rs.500 crore, NCT has recommended this project to the Union power ministry for final clearance.
Rationale
A total RE potential of 3.9 GW has been identified at Morena in Madhya Pradesh, out of which 2.5 GW is expected by December 2027 and the remaining 1.4 GW, by December 2030.
The proposed scheme will help evacuation of 2.5 GW of RE power from Morena as well as feed the upcoming 400/220kV Sabalgarh substation of state transmission utility Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd (MPPTCL).
Project elements
The Morena ISTS-TBCB scheme will involve putting up a new Morena Pooling Station (3×1500 MVA, 765/400kV and 2×500 MVA, 400/220kV) equipped with bus reactors, located south of Sabalgarh. The location of the substation will be finalized in consultation with Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd (the developer of the Morena Solar Park) and other stakeholders.
This Morena PS will be connected to the Karera substation by a 765kV double-circuit line running 90 km. The Karera substation is being developed through an independent ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “Karera Power Transmission Ltd,” a TBCB subsidiary of Apraava Energy.
As part of the Morena scheme, the 765/400/220kV Karera substation will also be augmented at the 400/200kV level with a 1×500 MVA interconnecting transformer (ICT), the third such at the substation.
MPPTCL’s upcoming 400/220kV Sabalgarh substation will be fed by the Morena PS via a 400kV double-circuit line that will be constructed by MPPTCL.
Technical consultants
PFC Consulting Ltd is in the advanced stage of appointing the technical consultant for the Morena ISTS-TBCB scheme. It is reliably learnt that three contenders – GIS Data Solutions, Prateek Surveyors India Pvt Ltd and MNEC Consultants Pvt Ltd – have technically qualified for opening of price bids. PFCCL is expected to finalize the technical consultant soon.
Featured photograph (source: MPPTCL) showing the Pithampur substation of MPPTCL is for representation only
